Snorkel Set

[emdiesse]

I am looking for a snorkel set for myself and my girlfriend, nothing too expensive. Just a set with mask, fins and snorkel for under £30, preferably. Capable of the odd splash about in lulworth cove or the odd trip abroad for a spot of snorkelling when the last thing I want is to be lugging around some large and heavy rubber fins.

I have been looking at two sets in particular, both US Diver ones. (I have an AquaLung Look mask for scuba and am pretty happy with it so i'm sure their snorkel range is of a similar standard)

Most importantly I am interested in fin performance. I would prefer a stiffer fin, one that feels like I am actually getting some power out of it and one that if I do decide to dive under and have a scout about the thing isn't flopping about all over the place, uselessly, with my stokes.

Set 1
Trek Travel Fins
Madera Mask
Rincon Snorkel

Set 2
Proflex II Fins
Cozumel Mask
Seabreeze Snorkel

The trek fins look shorter, but they look stiffer too. The latter I definitely prefer. Also they are of open heel design which would be great in case I decide to put some thin boots on with them just to get over tough terrain before hopping in the water. Can you replace the straps with new ones or spring ones?

Any other comments on each set?

Cheers,
Matt

[Toblerone]

You really need to try the mask on for fit. With masks, fit is everything.

[Nigel Hewitt]

Actually floppy fins can work a lot better unless you're a dedicated frog-kicker.
However for occasional use most things work so buy the one in a colour you like and have fun. If it becomes more serious you'll upgrade the parts as you go.

The most significant thing to snorkelling/freediving in the UK is your suit. You can do a short run on a warm sunny day in just your swimmers but don't let yourself get too cold too often. That triggers those little self preservation circuits in your brain to say 'snorkelling bad' and somehow the fun sucks out.

[ChristianG]

I am looking for a snorkel set for myself and my girlfriend. I have been looking at two sets in particular, both US Diver ones. (I have an AquaLung Look mask for scuba and am pretty happy with it so i'm sure their snorkel range is of a similar standard)
From this I am led to believe that you seem to think that another, specifically for snorkelling, mask is the way to go. Why? If you're happy with a mask you already have, simply use that one and buy a (simple) snorkel and holder for your current mask.

Apart from, perhaps, price, there is precious little difference (if there is any at all) between snorkelling and SCUBA masks.

[emdiesse]

Cheers for the replies guys.

I understand fit is everything and that buying a snorkel for my current mask would be cheaper but I quite fancy the idea of some nice short travel fins for when I go on holiday also. It seemed you could pick up trek travel fins for £15 and a snorkel seemed to be another £10 so when I put them two together I thought, why not a free mask (whether it fits or not).

I'll have a nice budget set I can chuck in my main luggage and forget about until I arrive at my destination :). Every holiday can become a snorkelling/diving one then ;).

So I ordered the set with the trek fins, we'll see how they go. Seemed a lot of reviews suggested they come up small so I ordered a large pair. Will see how they fit and go for the other pair from their.

Freediving, now that's a different kettle of fish. I'll be placing a set of omer milleniums on my wishlist (or similar) in regards to that! :) I need to get myself an enthusiastic buddy first and probably book myself in for an aida exam... I'll cross that path after the snorkelling one :)

[ChristianG]

unless you're a dedicated frog-kicker.
That's an interesting point actually. I (think) I tend to frog kick quite a lot but I have no real evidence of that. I wonder whether anyone's made a study of that one? In my case I'm sure that I use the frog kick to avoid cramp and (for me) it works very well but I'm entirely unsure of how much I use it. I also use the dolphin kick (very rarely) if I want to go places in a real hurry, such as in an emergency of some type.

I much dislike emergencies - at any time.